Oakland Councilmember Kaplan: In Memory Of Harvey Milk On The 40th Anniversary Of His Assassination

Oakland, CA – Today, November 27, 2018, is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, a leader in the LGBT movement and and first openly-gay American be elected to public office. At tonight’s City Council meeting, Oakland’s at-large Council member Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland’s first openly-lesbian Council member, will offer an “In Memoriam” to honor the life and legacy of Harvey Milk, and our commitment to continue the fight for human rights and social justice.

Said Kaplan: “Harvey Milk was an inspiration and role model for me. His outspoken leadership, commitment to justice and hope, and proud fight for LGBT rights while also actively working with broad coalitions for workers rights and racial and social justice, have helped inform my own work and been a beacon of hope to many. Harvey Milk’s story helped me, as a young person when I first came out, to be able to imagine a healthy future, and contributed to why it could even cross my mind that I might run for office someday. May we honor his life and his legacy by continuing to work to build a society of mutual respect that values all people. In this time of rising hate crimes in America, it is more important than ever that we honor and uplift the lives of those who were killed by hatred, and speak up for those being abused.”

Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and served until his assassination on November 27, 1978. In addition to his leadership on gay rights, he is well known for his “pooper scooper law”, and his leadership of a broad coalition with labor and others fighting for economic justice through the boycott of Coors beer.

The Oakland Council Meeting, at which Kaplan will deliver the memorial, begins at 5:30PM in the Council Chambers on the 3rd Floor at City Hall.